Has anybody been up over Cartridge Pass lately? I'm interested in knowing if the old JMT dropping from the pass down into the canyon of the South Fork of the Kings River is still hikeable. Also best area for river crossing. I'm on a limited timeline and don't have any to waste on dead ends.

The trail over Cartridge Pass is still mostly usable. Deeply eroded on the south side, but no route finding difficulties. But the exit down to the S Fork Kings? That was an overgrown bushwhack 40 years ago. I can't imagine what it is like today. It may be possible to parallel the old route above the willows and manzanita on the north side of the creek, but haven't seen (ever) anyone write about following that route.

"But the exit down to the S Fork Kings? That was an overgrown bushwhack 40 years ago. I can't imagine what it is like today. It may be possible to parallel the old route above the willows and manzanita on the north side of the creek, but haven't seen (ever) anyone write about following that route."

HI Steven - By chance, I ran across a guy who had just come down Cartridge Pass and up the South Fork Kings River on the north side when I was going in over Taboose Pass last month. There is a faint use trail that saves most of the bushwhacking, but you have to negotiate 3 ~200 yard talus fields along the way that are inconvenient but no big deal. He said the main problem was figuring out which of the numerous tracks down thru the forest duff was the correct trail. He ended up concluding it didn't much matter, just pick one and go for it. He did say, however, that it was really steep. I hope to find out for myself in early September.